Blank feeding mechanism



Ap 3, 1945. E. BLAIR BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 194s s sheets-sneer 1 vr/wrm? 17717@ Blair HTTURNE Y y bmw,

April 3, 1945. E BLAIR BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM s rsheets-sheet 2 Filed Jap. 27', 194s N\ MWN QN@ \N. \\\\f .7/ mm \`Nl u um N @Tramway Baye April 3, 1945. E, BLMR 2,372,706

BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Filed Jan. 27, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 vvEf/Tm? Emi/'e Blair H T'THNE Y Paienfed Apr. 3, 194s BLANK FEEDING MECHANISM Emile Blair, Dayton, Ohio, assignor `to Standard Aircraft Products, Inc., Dayton, Ohio, a corporation of Delaware Application January 27, 1943, Serial No. 473,686

16 Claims.

This invention relates lto a blank feeding mechanism and is designed more particularly fordelivering blanks to an extruding press.

One object of theinvention is to provide a mechanism for feeding blanks to thedie of 4the press in accurately timed relation to the movements of the punch and for accurately positioning each such blank with relationto the die.

A further object `of the invention is to provide such a mechanism which will operate to accurately positiona blank with relation to the die upon each outward movement ofthe punch and to quickly and positively retract the positioning means at a predetermined point in the inward movement of the punch.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism with` which the blank afterf being positioned with relation to the die will be held against lateral displacement throughout the inward movement of the punch.

A furtherobject of the invention is to provide such a mechanism in which the means for actuating the blank positioning device will be possitively controlled by the ram of the press.

A further object of the invention is to provide such a mechanism adapted tobe installed onav high speed press and operated in accordance with 'the speed of the press to accurately position a blank with relation to the die upon each reciprocation of the ram of the press.

A further object of the vinvention is to provide such a mechanism which will be simple in its construction and operation and can be produced at a relatively low cost. i y

Other objects of Ithe invention may appear as the mechanism is described in detail. l

In the accompanying drawings Fig. 1 is a plan view of a feeding `mechanism embodying my inventlon, partly broken away, andr shown in con-` nection with portions of a press; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the mechanism shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away; Fig. 3 is a sectional detail view taken on the line 3-3 of Fig. 1; Fig. liis a plan view of one of the blank positioning devicesshowing the members thereofin positioning contact with the blank; Fig. 5 is va front elevation of a` portion of the controlling mechanism showing the same in a position different from thatshown in Fig. 2; Fig. 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 6-6 of Fig. 4; and Fig. 7 Ais a similar` view showing the parts in diierent positions.

In these drawings I have illustrated one em-` bodiment of the `invention and have shown the same in connection with a tube extruding press suitable, mechanism for reciprocating the ram` at the desired speed. The die I3 is mounted in the bed plate I I and the punch I4 is carried by a supporting member I5 which is rigidly mounted on the `ram I2. The die and its punch are of a character adapted to extrude metal blanks in the form of tubes and the die is adapted to receive a blank I6, which is here shown in the form of a cylindrical slug of copper, or similar material, having an axial aperture I'I extending through the same (see Figs. 6 and 7). The blank ts so tightly in the die` that it will not, ordinarily, be moved by gravity into the die but will be supported above the die cavity until it is engaged by the punch and forced into the cavity. The die is provided at its lower end with an annular shoulder I8 which defines the outer boundary of the discharge opening through which the metal is extruded. The punch I4 comprises a part, or head, adapted to engage the blank, force the same into the die and there subject it to pressure and impact to heat the `metal and cause it to iiow through the discharge opening, and a small diameter portion or pilot I9 projecting from the head is adapted to extend through the aper- ,ture in the blank and into thedischarge opening and thus convert the latter nto'an annular orifice through which the metal is extruded in the form of atube. The punch does not extrude all the metal of the blank but there is left in the bottom of the die a residue, or scrap ring (not shown), which remains attached to the extruded tube, and in the operation of the present press the succeeding blank is `inserted inthe die on top of the scrap ring of the preceding blank and the latter is extruded in advance of the said succeeding blank, in accordance .with the method set of the vertically reciprocating type but it is toto forth in my application for patent, Serial No. 438,764, `iiled April 13,` 1942, now Patent No. 2,363,635, issued November 28, 1944. The press maybe provided with one or more dies. and punches and, in the present instance, a second die and punch are shown at I3a and I 4a. Presses of this kind operate at a very high speed, the ram of the press `here illustrated being capable of making one hundred and forty complete recipsively to a position adjacent to but spaced later ally from the die to which the blanks are to be delivered. In the present instancea plate 2.01is mounted above the bed plate of the. press/and provided with curved slots 2|" and 21rd and'. bel neath this plate there is rotatably mounted a disk 22 on which the blanks I6 are supported and moved by frictional contact with the disk through the slots or guideways 2| and 2Ia. The feed plate does not extend across the full width of the disk andthe-upper surface ofthe-disk is-'part-y ly exposed' topermit al quantity of' blanks tobeY deposited thereon in upright positions and then: fed in series through respective guid'eways. When the pressis inr operation each guide'wa5TI isl usually kfilled with blanks. rPheA endportions' off the' guideways areedeiiected outwardly beyondl the peripheryy off the` disk to points onthe bed plate ll adjacent therespective dies ancimeans aref provided for interrupting the movement ofl each series of`l blanks when tlieforemost blank of that serieshas 'been' projected beyondthe-end-l of'i the guideway, and when` themovement of the blanks is sofinterruptedl the disk will continue toA rotate in sliding engagement with the lowerfendsfl oftheblankswhichrest thereon;

The present invention resides particularly in' mechanism yfor, moving: avblank from' at position adjacent thediefto-a-position in line-with-the die cavity, inwhich position it will be operatively' engagedi by= the punch. This mechanism comprisesr a-v blank positioning device adapted to en gagethe blank Whl'efit is supported adjacent thel die, move that blank onto the-die and= accurately.' position the same 'withrelation thereto, and controllingl devices operating in timed relation toscpositiona: blanky uponeach reciproeation oitl the ram. Thepositicning device preferably includesI- two-positioningmembers, one offwhichm'oves they blank onto-v the diel and the other ofi which enr the die. Preferably the inner edge of the fingery 2-6-is curved and merges into the end edge Z5 to form a seat to receive the cylindrical blank. A

. pivotedarm 2li isconnected at its free end with tl'e.l positioning; member 23 to move the latter gages thelblank afterl it hasfbeenmoved onto the die and cooperates with the rst mentioned posi-- tioning member. to accurately-position the-blank andr` to hold the same against displacement after-f it has been so positioned. 'The' controlling de--l vices preferably include anactuating member'y operatively l connected with the positioning device-- and meansr for operating the actuatingr member in timed relation to the movements ofthe-ram' to` cause thepositioning deviceto movela-blankl onto the die whilethepunch is space'dfromthe die and.- to retract the positioningl devices during the operating stroke of the punch.

In the form of the apparatus hereillustrated a positioning device is arranged-adjacent each` dieto engage the foremost blank'ofthecorrespondV ing series of blanks and move thesame onto-'the die With which that positioning; device; is associated and to accurately-'position theVA same with relation-to the die. As shown inFigs. 1` and-4 thepositioning means associated: with the`v die` I3' ih'- cludes a positioning member 23 mounted-A for movement toward andfrom theY die and'l ishere shown as aflat bar slidably mounted ina guide#4 Way- 2t in the bed'platelllf. The' member 2-3fhastoward and from the die and, in the present instance, the arm is provided with an elongate slot 2.8,. into which extends a pin 29 rigid with the member 23, thus permitting the member 23 to be movedl n. a. straight.. line while the arm moves in the arc of a-cirCle.. The arm'A may be pivotally supported in any suitable-*manner and, ini the arrangement shown, it' isrigidly securedi to aipi'vot stud 30 which is: mounted inI a` vertically oiset portion 3|, ofi a. bracket 32' which is rigidly secured'` to the guide plate 2.0i moves clockwise, in Fig. 11, the positioning member 2.3. will movefthe outermost blank It across the face of the' die to thecenter thereof but in order to insure the accurate positioning of the blank4 and to hold thevsame' against lateral dis-- placement after it` has been positioned I have provided asecond positioning member to cooperate with the member 23; the twomembers being so connected` and controlled'that' they will move in. opposite directions in accurately timed relation one `to the other. I have here shown this secondpositioning member in the form of an arm 33 pivotally mountedonthe outer endof a crank arm 34 which; is rigidlyconnectediwiththe arm 2ladjacent the pivotal axis of the latter and extendsftransversely thereto.l At its free end themember 3'3 is provided withv a laterally extending part 35. adapted to be moved over the die and having a curved. edge- 35C tos engage the blank.

The member 33must ofcourse be moved in thel direction` opposite to that in which the arm 2l and'V positioning' member' 23' are movedand inasmuch as the crankf army 341 moves in the same direction as the arml 2T and will'. impart longitudinal movement' toit'he ar-m= 3311v have` provided CammeansOr moving the-latter toward or from the die during its longitudinalmovement -bythe crank arm. In the arrangement shown the arm is provided with an inclinedslot 31 through which extends a pin- SBmountd" in a rlxedbracket 3-9. Thusv the rotationl of' the stud" 30- inaclockwise direction: willL move the positioningv member 23' clockwise andthefpositioning member 33- counterclockwise andwilli cause` thepositioningrl member 23 to move the-foremostblank lliI to thecenter of the die where it will be engaged by thel positioning member 33f and0 accurately positioned with relation to the die, and will beheld in'thatr accurately positioned relationto-thedie so longas the positioning members remain inl engagement therewith. The rotation ofthe' stud-3o* in a counterclockwise ydirectionY will'simult'aneously retract both positioning members andA withdraw the blank engagingportions` thereofx from the die and out ofv thepath of tlie'p'uncir. These movements may be imparted to"l the arms in any suit'- abl'e mannerl and; as here' shown; the stud'A 3`has secured' thereto a second crankfarm'cil by means When the arm 2l asvavoc of which it is connected with an actuating device. In the present instance the actuating device is in the form of a longitudinally movable bar 4| 'and thecrank arm 40 has a pin and slot connection with awbracket 42 rigidly secured to the actuating bar. While I have shown the several arms rigidly secured toa rotatable stud 30 it will be obvious that the several arms may tbe rigidly connected one with the other and rotatably mounted as a unit on a fixed stud.

The positioning device associated with the second die, |3a, is identical with the positioning device above described in connection with the die |3 and it comprises a positioning member 23a actuated by an arm 21a mounted on a pivot stud 30a, and a second positioning member 33a pivotally mounted on a crank arm 34a and moved aboutits pivotal axis by a cam surface 31a. A

crank arm 40a secured to the stud 30a is connected by a pin and slot connection with the bracket 42a on an actuating bar 4|. Thus the two positioning devices are actuated simultaneously by the same actuating device and in the same timed relation to the movements of the punches.

In many prior tube extruding presses the punch was laterally offset from the die during thedown l stroke of the ram and the pilot was caused to enter the aperture in a blank and to frictionally engage the wall of the aperture to enable the blank to be supportedon the punch. The punch was then moved into line with the die and upon the next down stroke of the ram `the punch inserted the blank in the die and extruded the same. This not only required two reciprocations of the ram to extrude a single tube but also required that the aperture in the blank should be of an exact size to ena-ble the pilot to properly engage the blank without distorting the same. rThis made the production of the blank a precision operation and, in addition, the tight t ofthe pilot in the lblank often produced objectionable results in the extruding operation. With the present mechanism a tube is extruded from the die .upon each reciprocation of the ram and it is unnecessary that the pilot should t tightly in the blank. Thus the production of the `'blank is no longer a precision operation as it is only necessary that the aperture shall be of such a size that the pilot upon entering the same will retain the blank in line with the'die.

The operation of each positioning device must, of course, be so timed that the blank will be moved onto the die while the punch is spaced from the die, and that the positioning device will be retracted before the punch has moved inwardly far enough to engage the same.l This timing can be best eiTected by connecting directly with the ram certain of the devices which control the operation of the actuating device for the positioning members. The press operating at high speed is subject to more or less vibration and it is desirable that the positioned blank :be positively held against lateral displacement until it has been engaged by the punch and forced into the die, and the present mechanism is of such a character that the positioning members will be retained in engagement with the blank vto until the small diameter portion or pilot I9 of y,

the punch has entered the aperture in the blank and will then be moved quickly out of the path of the punch and its supporting member. Preferably after the positioning members have been retracted during the downward movement of the punch and ram they are locked in their retracted positions until the upward movement of the ram causes them to be released and moved in blank positioning directions.

The mechanism for so controlling the operation of the positioning device may take various forms but in the arrangement here shown the actuating device, or bar 4|, is slidably mounted on the guide plate 20 in guideways 42h. The bar is moved in one direction by spring means, the operation of which is initiated by a part carried by the ram, and is moved in the other direction by a device which is positively actuated by a part carried by the ram. As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the actuating bar is in its retracted position with the positioning members in their retracted, or inoperative, positions and is locked in that position by a locking pin 43 carried by a lock arm 44 pivotally mounted on a iixed bracket 45, which pin is in the path of a stop, such as a block 46 rigidly secured to the actuating bar. In the preferred construction the actuating bar is moved in blank positioning direction by the spring means which is here shown as a-tension spring 41 secured at one end to a stud 48 fixed to the slide bar 4| and connected at its other end with the vertical arm 49 of a bell crank lever 50 which is pivotally mounted on a bracket 5| secured to the frame member I0. The horizontal arm 52 of the bell crank 50 has lost motion connection with the device for locking the actuating bar 4| in its retracted position, and in the arrangement shown a link 53 is pivotally connected with the pivoted arm 44 which carries the locking pin 43, extends upwardly therefrom and is provided with a longitudinal slot 54 in which travels a pin 55 rigidly secured to the arm 52 of the bell crank. A rod 56 carried by the ram, and here shown as rigidly secured to a bracket 51 which in turn is rigidly secured to the ram, has at its lower end a lateral projection 58 which extends beneath the horizontal arm 52 of the bell crank. When the ram is at the lower limit of its operative stroke the rod 55 will be in its lowermost position and the pin 55 will be in the lower portion of the slot 54, and upon the reverse or upward movement of the ram the projection 58 engages the lower edge of the arm 52 and moves the bell crank clockwise, in Fig. 2, thereby stretching the spring 41 and placing the same under tension, as shown in Fig. 1. During the initial movement of the bell crank by the rod the pin 55 moves freely through the slot 54 without imparting longitudinal movement to the link 53, but just before the ram reaches the outer limit of its movement, as shown in Fig. 2, the pin will engage the upper end wall of the slot and the slight further outward movement of the ram and bell crank arm will move the locking pin out of the path of the stop 46 and thereby release the actuating bar, and the spring 41 will snap the bar quickly to the left, in Fig. l, to cause the positioning members to position a blank on the die. As the ram begins to move downwardly the projection `58 on the rod 56, moving with the ram, will permit the bell crank to be moved counterclockwise by the spring 41 but the spring will always have sufficient tension to hold the actuating bar against movement in a reverse direction and to thus hold the positioning members in engagement with the positioned blank.

The actuating bar is moved in the other or retracting direction by a bell crank 59, the vertical arm 60 ofwhich extends into an opening 6| in the actuating bar and is rounded to permit it to work-.freely in that opening without lost motion. 'The horizontal arm 62 of the :bell crank *59 entends into the path Vlof fa rod or Aplunger 163 carried by the ram and upon 'the `d'ownx'vard :movement of the ram this rod facts 4upon the bell :crank to move 'the same 1in 'a counterclo'ckwise direction and thus move the actuating :bar in 'the fretracting "direction, The Yplunger '63 is so po- ;-s'itioned with relation to the ram that it rwill en- `g'a'ge the arm vt2 of the bell crank ata predeterinin'ed point at which it is desired .to retract the positioning members, which, :in the present instance, is that `point at which the pilot t9 of the vpunch enters the aperture in the die. Thecontact fof the plunger with the arm of the bel'l crank causes the actuating device, and therefore 'the positioning members, to 'be operated at the same speed ,-at which the ram is moving, lthereby enabling them to `be withdrawn from the path of the punch while the punch is moving from the 'position .shown in Fig. 6 to the position shown in Fig. 'i. A stop is provided 'to vlimit the coun- Iterclockwise movementof the lbell crank 59 and is iadjustable to :permit that limit to be varied. As fh'ere shown, .the stop `is in the form vof :a screw G'Ilthreaded into a lug 65 on the bracketfl. The plunger B3 is yieldably supported on the ram 'to permit lthe -latter to move with relation 'thereto :after the plunger has engaged the arm 62 of the bell crank and while the ram completesits downward movement. In the arrangement shown the plunger is slidably mounted in the bracket 51 and h'as above the Vbracket an enlarged upper portion 4SI5 into which the upper end of the ylower portion 63 of the plunger is threaded, a nut 61 being provided to lock the .parts in their adjusted positions. The lower surface of the nut -61 forms a shoulder to engage the bracket 51 and limit `the downward movement of the plunger with relation 'thereto 'and this shoulder is held normally in con-- tact with vthe bracket by springs '68 which 'are connected at their lower ends with the bracket 51 :and 'at their upper ends with a cross arm 69 car- -r'ie'd by the upper portion 66 of the plunger. The springs are f such strength that they will not yield 'during'the movement fof the bell crank 59 by the plunger but will yield only after the movement of 'the bell :crank Ahas been interrupted by the'stop.

YIt'will be apparent from the 'foregoing descripltion that I have, provided a mechanism which operates at the speed of the press Ito feed a blank to and position the same on each4 die upon each Nrec'iproca-tion of the ram, the positioning memlbershold-ing the blank against displacement until the 'punch reaches a predetermined point Vin its movement toward the ydie and then being 'quickly and positively withdrawn; and that the mechanism, while relatively simple in construction :and operation, is of ta strong durable character and capable of operating at extremely high speeds in accurately timed relation to the move- -ments of the ram.

While I have shown land described one em- -b'odimentloi my invention I wish it to be understood that I do not "desire to :be limi-ted -to the details thereof as various modications may occur to a person yskilled in the art.

Having now fully described my invention, what -I claim as new and kdesire to secure -by Letters Patent is:

v1. In a mechanism Yfor feeding blanks to a press 'of the ty-pe including .a die, :a punch, and means *for moving said 'punch into and out 4of said die, a device `having apart vmovable Iacross 'the face of said die to position the blank with :gerardo .relation thereto, spring means vfor moving said device Sin blank .positioning direction, releasable means yfor preventing 'the movement of said device -by said spring means, means operating in .timed relation to the movements of said punch :to release saiddevice for movement by said spring .blank ,positioning direction, means operating in 'timed relation to the movements of said punch to L-place I'said vspring means under tension and to Arelease said device for operation by said spring means as ysaid punch approaches the outer limit of its-movement, and other means operating in timed relation to the movements of said punch to retract said 'de-vice as said punch approaches said die and to render said movement preventing Ameans operative.

3. In 'a mechanism vfor feeding blanks to a .press of the 'type comprising a ram, a die, and a .vpunchcarried by said ram and movable there- Iby :into and out of said die, a device for moving a Ablank :to a position to be operatively engaged by'said gpunch, an actuating device movable in one direction to `cause said .positioning device to `so ,position the lblank and movable in another direction to retract said positioning device, releasaoleaneans =to hold said actuating device against movementthe first mentioned direction, means .including Aa lspring to move said actuating device :in :said first mentioned direction, means controlled by said ramto release said :actuating device for movement by said spring while said ram 'is near the outer limit of its movement, and means controlled lby said ram to 'move said actuating device =in the last mentioned direction at a predetermined point in the movement of said 4. In a mechanism for feeding blanks 'to a :press vof lthe type comprising a ram, fa die, and a punch carried by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die.s a 'device for moving a lblank to -a 4position to be operatively engaged fby said lpunch, lan actuating device movable in lone direction to cause saidfpositioning device to 'so position the blank and movable in another direction to retract said positioning device, relea-sa'ble means -to hold Vsaid actuating 'device .against ymovement in the iirst mentioned directionpmea-ns including al spring to movesaid actuating device in 'said iirst mentioned direction, means controlled by said ram to place said spring under tension and to release said actuating device fer-movement by said `spring when said ram iis near -the l'outer limit of its movement, and means controlled by said ram to move said actuating device in 4the last mentioned .direction at Qa predetermined lpoint in the inward movement of said ram.

-5. In a mechanism .for feeding blanks to a press of the type vcom-prising a ram, a die, and .a `:punch carried by said ram and movable thereby .into land Vout of said die, a device for moving a blank to a .position to be operatively engaged iby ysaid Ipunch, van actuating device movable in one direction to cause said positioning device to so position the blank and movable in another ,said actuating device, and a part connected with said ram to engage said movable member and move said actuating device in the last mentioned direction when said ram arrives at a mined point in its inward movement.

6. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of the type comprising a ram, a die, and a punch carried by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die, a device for moving a blank to a position to be operatively engaged by said punch, an actuating device movable in one direction to cause said positioning device to ,so position the blank and movable in another predeterdirection to retract said positioning device, releasable means to prevent the movement of said j actuating device in the rst mentioned direction, i, spring means for moving said actuating device in said first mentioned direction, a lever connected with said spring means, means connected with said ram to move said lever in a direction to place said spring means under tension during the outward movement of said ram and` to release said actuating'member for movement by said yspring means when` said ram closely approaches the limit of its outward movement, and means controlled by said ram to move said actuating device in the last mentioned direction at a predetermined point inthe inward movement of said ram.

7. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press 0f the type comprising a ram, a die, and a punch carried by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die, a device for moving a blank to a position to be operatively engaged by said punch, an actuating device movable in -one direction to cause said positioning device to so position the blank and movable in another direction to retract said positioning device, releasable means to prevent the movement of said actuating device in the first mentioned direction, spring means for moving said actuating device in said first mentioned direction, a lever connected with said spring means, means connected with said ram to move said lever in a direction t0 place said spring means under tension during the outward movement of said ram and to release said actuating device for movement by said spring means when said ram closely approaches the limit of its outward movement, a second lever operatively connected with said actuating device, and a part connected with said ram and arranged to engage said second lever and move said actuating device in the last mentioned direction during the inward movement of said ram.

8. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of the type comprising a ram., a die, and a punch `carried 'by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die, a device for movingr a blank to a position to be operatively engaged by said punch, an actuating device movable in one direction to cause said positioning device to so DOsition' the blank and movable in another direction to retract said positioning device, a locking device movable into and out of engagement nected with said ram and acting on said pivotal member during the outward movement of said ram to place said spring under tension and to thereafter move said locking device out of engagement with said part of said actuating device to releasethe latter for movement by said spring, and means controlled by said ram for moving said actuating device in the last mentioned direction during the inward movement of said ram and causing said part thereof to be engaged by said. locking device.

9. In a mechanism for yfeeding blanks to a press of the type comprising a ram, a die, and a punch carried by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die, a device for moving a blank to a position to be operatively engaged by said punch, an actuating device movable'in one direction t0 cause said positioning device to so position the blank and movable in another direction to retract said positioning device, a lever operatively connected with said actuating device, a part carried by said ram to actuate said lever during the inward movement of said ram to move said actuating device in the last mentioned direction, said part being yieldably connected with said ram to permit the latter to move with relation tosaidA part after said lever has reached the limit of its movement, a locking device to -prevent the movement of said actuating device in the first mentioned direction, a second lever having a lost motion connection with said` locking device, a spring connecting said second lever with said actuating device, and a part connected with said ram to actuate said second lever during the outward movement of said ram to place said spring under tension and to render said locking device inoperative and thereby release said actuating device for movement in the rst mentioned direction b'y said spring.

10. In amechanism for feeding blanks to a press of th"e type' comprising a ram, a die, and a punch carried by said ram and movable thereby into and out of said die, a device for mov ing a blank to a position to be operatively engaged by said punch, an actuating device mov.- able in one direction to cause said positioning device to so position the blank and movablein another direction to retract said positioning device, a bell crank levenmounted on a Xed support and having a vertical arm operatively con.

nected with said actuating device, a rod carried by said ram and arranged to engage the horizontal arm of said bell crank during the downward movement of said ram and thereby-move said actuating device in the last mentioned direction, a. stop to limit the movement of said lever by said rod,said rod being yieldably connected with said ram to permit the latter to move with relation thereto when said bell crank has engaged said stop, a second bell crank lever movably mounted on a fixed support, a spring connecting the vertical arm of said |bell crank with said actuating device to move the latter in the nrst mentioned direction, a locking device to prevent the movement of said actuating device in said rst mentioned direction, a member con- 6 nected with said Alocking 4device and having lost motion .connection with Vthe horizontal arm of said bell crank, and a part rigidly connected with said ram and engaging the lower `side of said horizontal arm of said second bell crank to move said varm upwardly during the upward movement of said ram to place said spring under tension and to thereafter move said locking device to an inoperative position and to release said actuating device for movement by said spring.

11. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of the type including a die, a punch cooperating with said die, and'means for actuating said punch, a blank positioning device including a pivoted arm at one side of said die, a part connected withsaid arm for movement thereby toward and from said die and having a blank engaging part, a second pivoted arm at the other side *ofy said die having a blank engaging part -movable toward and from said die, an actuating device for said arms separate from and movable with relation to said punch, and means for operati-ng said actuating `device in timed relation to the movements of said punch to move said arms in :blank positioning directions and to retract the same.

l2, `In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of the type including a die, a punch cooperating with said die, and means for actuating said punch, a blank positioning device including a pivoted arm at one side of said die, a part connected with said arm for movement thereby toward and from said die and having a'blank engaging part, a second pivoted arm at the other side of said die having a blank engaging part movable toward and from said die, an actuating devicerincluding a rotatable member connected with both arms and having means to move said arms simultaneously in opposite directions, and means for operating said actuating device in timed relation to the movements of said punch.

13. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press ofthe type including a die, a punch cooperating with said die, and means for actuating said punch, a blank positioning device including a piveted arm at one side of said die, a member connected with said arm for movement thereby toward and Vfrom said die and having a blank engaging part, a crank arm rigidly connected with said arm adjacent the pivotal axis thereof, -an arm .pivotally mounted on said crank arm, extending on the other side of said die and having ya blank engaging part, means connected with the first mentioned arm for moving the same about its pivotal axis, and cam means for moving the last mentioned arm about its pivotal connection with said .crank arm as said first mentioned arm moves about its axis.

14. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of .the type including a die, a punch cooperating with said Ydie and means for actuating said punch, a blank positioning ldevice including a xed support, a pivot stud mounted on said astra-:roe

support ,in spaced relation to said die. 1an arm secured to said pivot stud `.and extending on one side of said die, a member connected with said arm for movement therebytoward and from said die and having a blank engaging part, a crank arm secured to said pivot stud and extending transversely to therst mentioned arm, an arm pivotally supported on said crank arm-extending on the other side of said die and having a blank engaging part movable toward and from said die, the last mentioned arm also having a cam slot, a stationary member Vextending into said slot, a second crank arm secured to said lpivot stud, an actuatingdevice connected with said second crank arm,.and means for operating said actuating device in timed relation to the movements of said punch.

15. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a .press of the type including a die, a punch cooperating with said die, and means for actuating said punch, aiblank positioning device including a pivoted arm at one side of said die, a member connected with said arm for movement thereby toward and from said die and having a blank engaging part, a crank arm rigidly connected with said arm adjacent the pivotal axis thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on said crank arm, extending on the other side of said die and having a blank engaging part, cam means for moving the last mentioned arm about its pivotal connection to said crank arm as said first mentioned arm moves about its axis, and means connected Vwith `the rst mentioned arm and operating in timed relation to the movements of saidpunch to move both arms in blank positioning direction ywhile said punch is near the outer ylimit of its movement and for retracting both arms at apredetermined point in the inwardmovement of said punch.

16. In a mechanism for feeding blanks to a press of the `type including a die, a punch cooperating with said die, and means for actuating said punch, a blank positioning device including a pivotecl arm at one side of said die, a member connected with said arm for movement thereby toward and .from said die and having a blank engaging part, a crank arm rigidly connected with said arm adjacent the Vpivotal axis thereof, an arm pivotally mounted on said crank arm, extending on the other side of said die and having a blank engaging part, cam .means for moving the last mentioned arm about its pivotal connection to said crank arm as said .first mentioned arm moves about its axis, and means connected y with the rst mentioned arm and operating in timed relation to the .movements of `said punch to move both arms in blank positioning direction while said punch is near the outer limit of its movement, for retaining said arms .at the inner limits of their movements in said vdirection until said punch reaches a predetermined point in its movement and then quickly xretracting .both arms.

ENHLE BLAIR. 

